Dr. Elad Segal, founder and CEO of DriftSense, a start-up company that developed an artificial intelligence-based solution for accurate prediction of spraying times and locations, with the aim of reducing losses to farmers and preventing environmental risks
Meet Dr. Elad Segal, graduate of the chemistry department at Bar-Ilan University, CEO and co-founder of the start-up company DriftSense, thefocuses on solving the global problem of pesticide spraying. "The spraying done today in an imprecise manner causes huge losses to farmers and environmental risks."
He explains, "By combining data from multiple sources, including meteorology, material properties, spray tools, and the regulation that applies to these materials, and by analyzing them using artificial intelligence and machine learning, we provide farmers and agronomists with an accurate prediction of the exact time (10 days in advance) and exact location especially for carrying out the sprayings, in a way adapted specifically for them".
Alongside Dr. Segal in the leadership of the company are Dr. Ran Shaoli, whom he met during his studies at Bar-Ilan University, and Dr. Pavel Kunin. "The company grew out of Bar-Ilan University, in the Enbox entrepreneurship center, under the management of Ariel Sela. "
Dr. Elad Segal's academic path has passed completely in the chemistry department of Bar-Ilan University, where he studied for a bachelor's degree in medicinal chemistry, a master's degree in materials chemistry, and a PhD in chemistry and materials science. "The field of materials and science has always attracted me. From childhood I wanted to understand in depth how problems can be solved using particles that are not visible to the eye, molecules. Before starting my undergraduate studies, I toured several universities and institutes, and the people I met in the chemistry department at Bar-Ilan, including the lecturers , the faculty and students, gave me a warm feeling of home from the first moment I found out that it was indeed like this when I was accepted to study It's always felt and it's charming in my eyes."
As a student, Dr. Segal received several scholarships, including the President's Scholarship (Bar-Ilan), the Ministry of Science Scholarship for Applied Science and Engineering, the Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (Bar-Ilan) scholarship, and more. These scholarships, he says, allowed him to study and research in peace. He joined the training and management team in programs for science-seeking youth at the university, "in which I met children, girls, boys and girls with an incredible level of curiosity, who reminded me of myself as a child."
I always remember that throughout my studies, from first degree to third degree, there were difficult periods, because the studies require a deep understanding and attention to detail," Dr. Segal shares. "Success in the degree would not have been possible without good friends, lots of laughter and study methods that required creative thinking outside the box.
Another thing is the ability and true desire of the lecturers to be a listening ear to the students, and quite a few times I would come or call them to consult about the study materials, which was always received with a smile on their part, which is amazing to me. Special thanks to Prof. Adi Salomon, my PhD supervisor. Adi always pushed me forward and never gave up on me. She guided me and knew how to give the spice in the places where I wanted to explore new things that interest me, and thus allowed me to grow professionally and personally."
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